litter

litter [lit′ər]

n.

[ME litere < OFr litiere < ML literia, lectaria < L lectus, a couch: see LIE¹]

1. a framework having long horizontal shafts near the bottom and enclosing a couch on which a person can be carried

2. a stretcher for carrying the sick or wounded

3. straw, hay, leaves, etc. used as bedding for animals, as a protective covering for plants, etc.

4. a kind of granular clay used in an indoor receptacle (litter box) to absorb the waste of domestic cats

5. the young borne at one time by a dog, cat, or other animal which normally bears several young at a delivery

6. things lying about in disorder, esp., bits of rubbish scattered about

7. untidiness; disorder

8. Forestry the surface layer of the forest floor, in which the leaves are slightly decomposed

vt.

1. to supply with a bed, covering, etc. of straw, hay, or the like

2. to bring forth (a number of young) at one time: said of certain animals

3. to make messy with things scattered about

4. to scatter about carelessly

vi.

to bear a litter of young